Last year 2015 was pretty good for me, and I even wrote a melancholy-free blog post last December when I was really on a high. I wish I could say the same for this year, so if you want to skip this one I won’t be offended. But what a weird year it’s been. I don’t like to get overly political here, as it doesn’t seem the place, but well, there was this election here in the States that was hard not to have an opinion about. Let’s just say the news will certainly be interesting in the new year.
One area that many will be curious about, including me, is whether the new Trump administration will push for changes in laws on porn and adult websites. No one really knows and there really hasn’t been that much talk on the issue. Mr. Trump’s hotels still carry adult movies, which is a good sign, but some in his cabinet including of course the incoming vice president are extremely anti-porn. Personally I’m not too worried, as my own site is so small and so utterly tame compared to much of what’s out there (and I’m not even sure my site rises to the level of porn, pun intended, although technically I’d say that’s what is, with adjectives like “fetish” and “kink” also applying.) But with the new political climate it will be interesting to see if anything changes or not in the coming years.
Back in August I also wrote a longer blog post about depression and my own struggles with it off and on over the years, and for the most part I received a lot of really supportive responses, especially from people who struggle with the condition themselves or who have family members or friends who do. There were also a few responses along the lines of, “Oh, just snap out of it. You’re Sandra Gibbons, you have nothing to be depressed about, you’re awesome!” Which is both a compliment, sort of, and also a little annoying. Of course it’s true in the scheme of things I have nothing at all to be depressed about, which just shows how persistent and free from rational thinking it can be when the dark moods do hit. It is kind of like telling an alcoholic to just stop drinking. Well, yes, of course…
I was also impressed and moved by the stories of some celebrities who “came out” about their own struggles with depression, such as Selena Gomez recently. And the one that really blew me away was Bruce Springsteen, who as one writer put it is so macho that you can’t imagine him ever struggling with low moods, which stereotypically seem like an affliction of awkward introverts. And yet apparently it’s been a weight he’s carried off and on for decades, compounded by the shadow of his father who was deeply troubled in his later years. His case is both inspiring and a little worrisome in that respect.
On the plus side I’m probably in the best physical shape I’ve ever been in my life, as I continue to chase that endorphin high in the gym. Of course I wish I were twenty years younger, but hey, you take what you can get.
Also, one of the biggest losses this year was of course seeing so many amazing musicians pass away – first Bowie, then Prince, and then two days after the election Leonard Cohen dies. That one really hit me hard and seemed a commentary on the end of this year, leaving the world a little colder. I’ll admit I didn’t know of Juan Gabriel, Mexico’s LGBT icon, but since his passing I’ve heard about him quite a bit and have seen his face on newsstands. Although never truly “out,” he still lived his own flamboyant life for decades in a culture where being gay is still a big deal.
I also have a couple friends who have had a terrible time financially this year, just barely getting by. And I’m aware of others working in the adult website business who have seen big downturns. Thankfully Trannies in Trouble is a very specialized niche, which is a good thing for me, but still I admit I’ve even seen changes in traffic in the last year or so, and I really get a sense that free sites like Pornhub and Tumblr have become a big challenge. There are just an endless amount of free images and videos out there now, and the online business does seem to be tighter nowadays, probably just an inevitable development. In any case, I plan to keep it all going for as long as I can, and I have some new ideas for the new year. And as always I’m once again looking forward to the anniversary of the site coming up in late March. It’ll be here in no time!
So it’s been that kind of year. We’re all getting through it – well, most of us, but yes, like many I’ve had better ones. Let’s just hope that 2017 is an improvement for all of us and brings some positive changes, or that at least New Year’s Eve is fun and reflective in a good way. And if 2016 has been good for you, then I hope you have an even better one next year. And as always I have to thank all the paying customers who keep my website running. I always say it, but it’s true that without you I simply could not do this. So thank you all!
I hope everyone has family or friends they can be with during the holidays, whichever ones you celebrate this season, or at least have a decent place to stay and a nice comfortable bed to sleep in where you can face the morning light. Keep the faith, whatever it may be for you. We’re all in this together. Hugs…Sandra
Thanks for another year of fantastic pictures, and inspiration. Here’s to 2017 being a better year, whatever happens.
Thanks so much, Angel, glad you love the pictures…Hope we all have a good start to 2017 :-)
It’s a shame you got that kind of reaction to your depression post. I found it honest and inspiring. Though two things they said are true: you are Sandra Gibbons and you are awesome.
Hope 2017 is better for you and we get to see each other more often.
Hugs,
-Victoria
Aw, thanks, Victoria. I appreciate that. Those responses were very few to be honest and I do think people basically mean well when they say things like that. It’s kind of like a clumsy attempt to make things better. It is a tough subject for some people to even acknowledge…Hope we’ll see you again soon too in 2017! Thanks for posting…Hugs, Sandra
Hey Sandra,
Thank you for sharing so much of yourself. I know how difficult it can be to put yourself “out there.” I, for one, am thankful that you do. I hope to see you sometime in 2017.
Bounds Hugs and Gagged Kisses,’
Miki
Thanks, Miki! I appreciate that. I hope we’ll see you too in the new year :-) Hugs, Sandra
Hope you are around forever Sandra. You are the BEST model on the web. Happy 2017***********
Aw, thanks, Spandexman, you’re much too generous…I appreciate it :-) And hope you have a fun New Year’s Eve!
Have a very happy 2017 Sandra…and still…the best legs on the net!
Thanks so much, Lou, hope you have a great 2017 too :-)
Hi Sandra. I’m back under a new name. I hope You like it. I see You are looking for new video suggestions. Getting caught and tied up is always a favorite theme. Also a fantasy of mine is serving my Mistress daily, one day out of nowhere, chair tied in the middle of living room, inescapable of course, ball gagged and then being told I will be the centerpiece of Her party as female guests arrive. And also, i have no objection Sandy if You choose to show a little more of Your girls in bondage. Story lines and on screen bondage im sure will get a lot of thumbs up. Yours restrained, Sissygirl
Sandra, 2016 was an awful year for so many of us, no two ways about it. I’m just glad you got through it, depression and all, and it’s good to hear from you again.
As for the (small-scale) adult industry, I think it’s a combination of factors: Credit card providers are making it harder for cottage-industry adult sites to continue working (while major corporate adult sites can afford to find ways around the regulations, or pay more to process their money themselves); the streaming market has made it harder for small-scale producers to compete, since much of that income comes via tangible sales like DVDs; the amount of adult content, legally available or otherwise, makes it hard for paysites to compete; and the fact is a lot of us just don’t have the same amount of disposable income we had any more, and we’ve got more things to spend it on.
I hope you keep on for as long as you can – your work is lovely and fun to look at.
Thanks for sharing your fantasy, Sissygirl, and your preferences :-)
And thanks, Delia, for your comments. I agree, what a year 2016 was! Let’s hope we get through 2017 okay :-) And yes, the online adult industry has certainly become tighter (no pun intended). The recent news about Fetlife losing their credit card billing came as a shock to me too. Who knows that full back-story there but it’s very disturbing to hear when things like that happen. It wouldn’t surprise me if the credit card companies become more cautious in the year ahead…We’ll see…
Hi Sandra,
You always look fabulous and you’re an inspiration to all of us.
With regard to website content, the vids I enjoy the most are the ones that are similar to my own real experiences.
Like most trannies, I get tied up by myself more often than by others, so self-bondage gone wrong vides are very exciting.
I don’t care for nudity or exposed parts.
Isn’t the whole concept of being a tranny
the enjoyment of wearing naughty clothing??
For me it’s girdles
and I love it when they show up on your website,
but I understand the nature of a fetish.
For someone else it’s a wooly sweater or a nylon parka.
So I hope we’ll see lots of trannies in girdles
trying out new self bondage tricks and getting stuck.
By the way……
have you ever tried out a rope ratchet??
They sell them at Home Depot to tie down things to the top of your car.
hmmmmmmmmm……
Keep having fun!
Suzanne
Thanks for your comments, Suzanne…I agree, I’ve always liked self-bondage-gone-wrong scenes too :-)